News and Analysis

With Investment in Geo, Foursquare Focuses on Improving Data Access

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When it comes to location data specifically, Senior VP of Product Josh Cohen is seeing Foursquare’s partners put more emphasis on the quality of data. The company’s partners are developing more sophisticated understandings of the range of data quality when it comes to location, which means Foursquare has to dedicate more resources to make sure new industry-wide expectations are met.

Telnet Passwords Leaked for Half a Million IoT Devices, Servers, Routers

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The breach is particularly significant given the rapid expansion of smart or IoT devices. Given that consumers already struggle to secure basic electronic devices including laptops and smartphones, the Telnet breach indicates how much larger the security risk for personal devices may become in coming years as smart speakers, TVs, and fridges join the legion of devices open to hackers.

Roundtable: How Google’s Third-Party Cookie Announcement Will Disrupt Search, Ad Tech

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Google indicated it is making the change to boost user privacy on the Web, and the company believes digital advertising can survive on the back of evolving, more privacy-aware data sources. Chief among those sources, at least in the case of Chrome, will be Google’s privacy sandbox, which will offer advertisers and ad tech companies personalization opportunities based on browser data without granting them direct access to user-level information.

To size up the impact of Google’s announcement on ad tech and hyperlocal marketing, we turned to a slate of industry professionals for their takes on the move.

Commentary

Street Fight Launches Third Annual “State of Hyperlocal” Survey

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We’re kicking off our third annual executive survey about the state of the local marketing ecosystem. We welcome readers to share their thoughts on the state of the industry by filling out a short survey on what their companies are prioritizing and what challenges they’re facing. As a thank-you, we’re offering a free report or a discount on Summit tickets.

How Much Should We Still Care About Duplicate Content?

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There has been a belief that duplicate content — although it is not cause for a penalty, unless it appears deceptive — hurts the overall quality of the website. Therefore, for years, duplicate content has been on a website audit checklist as an item to fix. But is that still the case?

How Far Can Google Local Services Expand?

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Regardless of what Google thinks is in the best interest of the searcher, the company has “no choice but to accelerate their monetization in Local to keep their revenues growing at a healthy clip and Wall Street happy,” David mihm tells Mike Blumenthal in their biweekly column.

Latest Posts

Street Fight Daily: Instagram Boosts Ads for Brands, Google Acquires Urban Engines for Maps

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Instagram’s Deems Its Brand-Focused, Call-to-Action Ads Work in Progress… Google Acquires Urban Engines to Bolster Location-Based Analytics… Data-Driven Marketing is Driving More Revenues…

As Merchants Flock to Social Media, How Can Community News Sites Keep Pace?

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According to a new survey, SMBs are turning to social media more and more. But they may be doing it not just because they’re getting good results but also because they have better buying experiences with Facebook and others.

Case Study: Portland Retailer Reaches New Customers with At-Home Try-On

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EcoVibe Apparel is working with a hyperlocal startup called Dorrbell and giving local shoppers a way to try on items from the comfort of their homes. Customers go online and choose products they would like to try on, they then schedule a time for them to be dropped off.

Street Fight Daily: Instacart Aims for Positive Cash Flow, Google Drives App Installs

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Instacart Looks to Build an Empire with Promoted Ad Business… Google’s App Ad Business Drivers Billion Installs in Last Four Months… Ads Help Businesses Stay Afloat, But Slows Load Times End Web Visits…

6 Click-to-Text Tools for Local Businesses

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Seventy-five percent of millennials prefer to text versus call on their mobile phones, according to a survey by the mobile engagement platform OpenMarket, and 76% prefer to receive texts from businesses because they say texting is more convenient and less disruptive.

Will the ‘Physical Web’ Help Retailers Reduce Annoying Ads?

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While still in its infancy, and not yet realized, the physical web will prove to be an asset to franchisees looking to connect, and engage with, potential customers from their surrounding neighborhood ­– without barraging them with untimely and irrelevant messaging.

Street Fight Daily: Inside the Self-Driving Uber Experience, Billy Penn’s Sister Site Launches

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Uber Starts Self-Driving Car Pickups in Pittsburgh: Here’s a Peek Into the Experience… The Incline, Billy Penn’s New Sister Site, Launches in Pittsburgh… Amazon’s Echo Is Finally Being Released in the UK and Germany…

HomeAdvisor CEO: The Marketplace for Home Services Is ‘Operationally Intense’

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“If you’re going to get into [the home services] space, you better be prepared to really invest and for the long haul,” says Chris Terrill. “There are no quick fixes or technology that’s suddenly going to turn this thing around.”

App Connects Travelers With Revelers, Parties Ensue

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Thanks to the recently refreshed Party With a Local app, this lonely planet of ours may become just a bit less so — or a least more social. “The idea … came from my own experiences of finding that a night out anywhere is better with a local, but it’s not always easy to meet locals,” CEO Dan Fennessy said of the service.

Street Fight Daily: Google Data Supports Mobile-First Ads, Brands Infiltrate iMessage

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google’s Mobile User Data Shines Light on Consumer Purchasing Habits… As Apple Opens iMessage Store, Brands from Burger King to Betty Boop Want In… Verizon Buys Connected Lighting Company, Adding More Location Capability…